Africa-Press – Kenya. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed the withdrawal of security officers attached to Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
Murkomen, however, maintained that he (Natembeya) is the only politician to lose the officers, but a number of leaders from both sides of the political divide are ahead of Thursday’s by-elections in their region.
“The National Police Service has a report that the officers attached to them are involved in criminal activities. Some who may be seen to be leaning to one side of the political divide have chosen to keep quiet and not to share publicly what the police have done, but some have decided to go public,” he said.
“It is not only one person whose security has been withdrawn.”
According to the CS, their aim is to ensure that the firearms are not misused by the officers in the name of protecting their bosses.
“In any case there is no boss tomorrow. The people are the bosses, and they are going to elect their boss, so everybody who was campaigning for a party your job is done,” he said.
Murkomen said anybody who will be found loitering and trying to interfere with elections will be treated as a suspect “like other suspects.”
The presence of security officers at the voting areas, he said, will be to ensure that voters are not intimidated.
“Our job as a government is to ensure voters are not intimidated, and when we succeed in intimidating the goons, we are very happy. When goons complain that the government is intimidating, it is my joy,” said the CS.
Murkomen was speaking when he assessed the security situation and preparedness in Kasipul and other electoral areas ahead of the poll.
His response came after Natembeya claimed security officers attached to him as bodyguards and those guarding his home in Kitale were recalled Tuesday night.
The governor termed the withdrawal as an act of intimidation and a threat to his life.
“All the security officers attached to me were recalled last night, and I was forced to have my own measures in place for safety,” said Natembeya.
Natembeya said security for him was not an offer from the government or anyone but a constitutional right that must be respected.
He accused the police of being used to politicise and weaponise security apparatus because of political interests.
“Let whoever did that know that I will not be intimidated or cowed into giving up on my stand,” said Natembeya.
He said the withdrawal was done at a time when his life had been under threat, with attacks he escaped during the by-election campaigns in Malava and Bungoma.
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